Freshman Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood is a gamechanger on the turf, and he’s also making a difference in his community. On April 6, he partnered with Feldman Chevrolet and Blue by Ninety to give Mych Darty, a security guard at Belleville (Mich.) High, Underwood’s alma mater, a new ride.
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood gives back to helpful high school security guard
Underwood is known to be a great teammate, and it doesn’t stop with people on the field with him. As one of the most highly recruited players in the country through most of his high school career, Underwood could’ve felt immense pressure. He said Darty was there for the athletes’ mental health.
“The difference he made for the athletes here honestly,” Underwood said of why he chose Darty for the gift. “Whenever we needed somebody to lean on, he was there. Whenever we needed to get out of class for a mental break or anything like that, he was there.”
As a high-profile athlete like Underwood, it’s likely to cross paths with selfish people. However, Underwood said Darty is down to earth, and not just with him.
“The genuineness out of Mych, you know, he really cares, and you can tell,” Underwood said. “He shows that to anybody and everybody. No matter what they did (and) no matter who they are.”
It would be easy for Underwood to focus on himself and what’s in front of him – a promising career – but he chose to reach back and help someone who helped him. Underwood may only be a few months into his time as a ‘Michigan Man’, but the 17-year-old already fits the bill.
Darty said he knew what kind of person Underwood was from the moment they met.
“The first interaction I had with Bryce, he probably doesn’t remember but I do,” Darty said as Underwood quickly rebutted. “I was taking tickets at a soccer game, walked past (him), I said, ‘are you the quarterback?’, he said, ‘yeah’, (we) had a good conversation, and I’m like, ‘oh, this kid’s humble,’ like, (there) wasn’t anything cocky about him. I’m like, ‘I like him,’.
One of the greatest things about sports is what they do for people in everyday life. Underwood previously met Darty’s daughter, and it strengthened their connection well beyond the gridiron.
“We’ve built a bond that is outside of sports, is outside of school, like he knows I care about him (and) I know he cares about me, because one his memories is with my daughter,” Darty said. “What high school kid really cares about an adult’s children? Like, that’s a real bond. It’s not just fake, it’s real.”
Underwood has big goals for his time at Michigan, and he has the values to align.
“He’s always looking to help someone out, like he’s just a great person in general,” Darty said. “He was raised right, like he does things the right way in every aspect of life.”
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